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Anassis takes first-ever race at COTA

November 16, 2012

Emmanuel Anassis won the first race ever at the Circuit of the Americas. Photo by FERRARI

Veteran Ferrari Challenge driver Emmanuel Anassis, driving for Ferrari of Quebec, moved up from a second-row starting spot to take the first of two Ferrari Challenge races at the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The Ferrari Challenge is one of the preludes for Sunday's Formula One race.

Second was Grand-Am regular and race polesitter Alex Popow, driving for Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale. Third was Carlos Kauffmann, driving for Ferrari of Beverly Hills.

Several other familiar faces from other U.S. series were in the 34-car field--American Le Mans Series driver Cooper MacNeil drove the WeatherTech Ferrai to fourth place, and fellow ALMS driver Scott Tucker finished ninth after starting from the rear, due to a pre-race rules infraction.

The race was, as are many Ferrari Challenge meets, rough and tumble, with car-to-car contact extending even into the post checkered-flag laps. Former Grand-Am driver Enzo Potolicchio was battling for a top-five position with Kauffmann when Kauffmann punted him off the track.

Potolicchio's car appears to have been damaged by the contact, and he locked his brakes and drove into the safer barrier a couple of turns later, He was not injured, nor were any of the other drivers who suffered off-track excursions.

MacNeil and Popow are two of the drivers who will return to COTA next year in other series. How do they like the new track?

"I think it's pretty amazing," MacNeil said. "The surface, the pavement is super smooth, and I really love having the opportunity to race out here. It's simply an outstanding track."

Said Popow, "From the very moment you get your tires out on the track, its just one amazing driving experience after another. It's not only America's newest track, overall it just may be America's best track. It's a totally new, green track, so the grip isn't that great, but it's still a wonderful experience.

"I found the track to be very challenging. You have to sacrifice speed on some parts of the track because of the design, and then try and make it up on other parts of the circuit that area faster. I think the S-curve is very technical, and takes considerable skill to navigate. The tendency is to try and go faster than you should. But you'll pay for it, if you try to, because your lap times are sure to suffer.

"So you have to take it slow at first and learn the pace and rhythm of the track in order to do well. As with all racing, the goal is to go as fast as you can—without making mistakes."

The Historic Grand Prix cars take to the track later today, and the Ferrari Challenge and Pirelli Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge West runs before the F1 race Sunday.